Compact media archive

ABSTRACT

A unit created to store and organize large numbers of laser discs in a significantly reduced space is disclosed. The unit, known as the Compact Media Archive, consists of folded cards made from durable paper or plastic sheets ( 11 ). Margins perpendicular to the fold of each card ( 12 ) are glued while the side parallel to the fold is left open ( 14 ) to form a compartmental subunit ( 13 ). Connecting the outer surfaces of the subunits in succession yields the Compact Media Archive ( 15 ). Compartments of the unit are numbered in succession to specify location ( 17 ). And, each disc can also be assigned a number ( 18, 19 ) matching its compartment. The numbering system is to facilitate retrieving and returning discs to their specific compartments.

This application claims priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/497,864 filed on Aug. 26, 2003.

CROSSED REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the storage of laser discs, specifically compact discs, data discs, and digital video discs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the number of laser discs owned by an individual increases, so does the challenge of storing them. The first problem with storage consists in finding the necessary space to accommodate a large number of discs. The second problem arises as one usually needs, in case of a large number, to organize the discs in such consistent manner to be able to retrieve them without a long search. Also, protection is a major concern, considering that most discs are ordinarily part of a collection.

Many inventors have created items attempting to make it more convenient to store laser discs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,608 to Spector (1998) discloses a binder that encloses front and rear panels joined to form pockets not so different from that of a photo album. Individual discs are inserted in separate pockets. Various products of this type are available on the market. Many of them are referred to as “CD albums.” However, they tend to be quite expensive. Also, repeated use inserting and pulling out the discs can quickly tear out the pockets. This inevitably brings the user back to square one.

Other inventions such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,687 to Wyatt (1999), U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,296 to Wright (1995), U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,147 to hunt (1990) consist of rectangular structures with slots to accommodate Individual cases that the discs are sold with. Simply put, they are mini shelves or racks. One shortcoming of these inventions is that they disregard the fact that laser discs cases often referred to as “Jewel Cases” come in different sizes, not to mention different shapes. Furthermore, this type of storage often brings no improvement in terms of saving space. In this case a user might be better off leaving “Jewel Cases” containing the discs on a table or desktop and save his or her money.

In conclusion, insofar as I know, there is no current product on the market that fully meets the challenge of storing large number of laser discs while addressing simultaneously all the fundamental issues, namely:

-   -   1) Minimizing the space required.     -   2) Organizing the discs so they can be retrieved and return to         their exact location without a long search.     -   3) Protecting the discs from being scratched.     -   4) Being so easy to manufacture so that it is very affordable to         consumers regardless the number of discs in their collection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein is conceived for the purpose of storing a large number of laser discs in the smallest space possible with each disc individually stored and protected in its own compartment. It consists of folded cards made from durable paper or plastic sheets. These materials can be transparent or colored, but for esthetic reasons only. The margins perpendicular to the fold of each card are glued, while the side parallel to the fold is left open to create a compartmental subunit where a disc can easily slide in and out. Then, connecting the outer surfaces of the cards in succession brings varying numbers of compartments together to form a unit, the Compact Media Archive. The unit can be manufactured to hold discs in multiples of fifty. Since each card forms a discrete compartment which houses a single disc, each disc is very well protected and easily accessed.

The compartments of the Compact Media Archive are numbered in succession to specify location. In order to facilitate the retrieval of discs a set of small, removable self-adhesive labels with numbers are also provided. The numbers on the labels correspond with those of the compartments so that users can assign specific discs to the specifically numbered compartments according to their own preferences. Also, the set of labels that comes with a given unit can vary in color from that of another unit to give users a wider range of options

The Compact Media Archive is particularly advantageous when it comes to keeping track of one's discs, since it helps create an inventory without any complicated classification scheme on the part of users. They can tally an ordered list of their discs just by using the numbering system. In addition, it reduces the required storage space dramatically. The Compact Media Archive is especially great for public and private libraries, which have to store a substantial number of discs in a limited space and be able to retrieve and store them rapidly.

DRAWING

FIG. 1 is the card used to make compartmental subunits.

FIG. 2 shows one compartmental subunit.

FIG. 3 shows the Compact Media Archive with a limited number of compartments.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 with the Compact Media Archive physically stretched.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 with the Compact Media Archive with openings turned to one side.

FIG. 6 is a segment of the Compact Media Archive showing the numbering of compartments.

FIG. 7 shows numbering labels for discs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

FIG. 1 is the card (11) that is used to make compartmental subunits. The margins (12) of the card (a width of up to 0.5 cm) are glued to form each compartmental subunit.

FIG. 2 is the compartmental subunit that is formed by gluing the margins (12) of the card. Reference numeral 14 points to the opening where a disc can easily slide in and out.

FIG. 3 shows a projection of the Compact Media Archive (15) after subunits are assembled by gluing their outer surfaces. Only a limited number of compartments are shown for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 with the Compact Media Archive physically stretched. The Compact Media Archive is very flexible, such that one segment can expand independently of the other. This property makes it easy to slide discs in and out without inflicting any damage on the unit or the discs. Numeral 16 points to the junction between subunits.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 with openings of the Compact Media Archive rotated to one side. The openings of the compartmental subunits do not have to face upward. They can also be positioned laterally. This gives users the option of inserting discs either from the top or from the side depending on the position where they have available space.

FIG. 6 is a segment of the Compact Media Archive showing the numbering of compartments (17). The numbering system uses removable stickers, which makes it all the more versatile. Users of the Compact Media Archive can change the numbering as it suits them.

FIG. 7 is a set of numbering labels (18, 19) that users can put on their discs to match the specific location of the discs in the Compact Media Archive. For instance, if a disc entitled “Guitar Classics” is assigned to compartment 004, sticker 004 is placed on the disc. This way the user will always know where “Guitar Classics” belongs. If one has a list of the discs, then the number 004 can be placed next to “Guitar Classics” to indicate where to find it. Only a limited number of labels are shown for the sake of clarity.

Reference Numerals

11. Card

12. Margins where card is glued

13. Subunit

14. Opening of subunit

15. Compact Media Archive

16. Plane of connection between consecutive subunits

17. Numbered label of subunit

18. Set of numbered labels

19. Numbered label for discs

Operation

Depending on the ampleness of their collections, users can acquire units with storage capacities ranging from fifty to two hundred or more discs.

-   -   1. Compartments are already numbered.     -   2. A separate set of numbering labels is provided to users.     -   3. Users, if desired, can utilize labels to number each disc         according to the compartment to which it is assigned.     -   4. If the location of a disc is to be changed, its numbering         label can always be changed.     -   5. If acquiring more than one unit, users have the choice of         getting continuing numbers or getting units with different color         codes.     -   6. If desired, users can tally a list of their discs ordered by         number or alphabetized with the numbers next to titles. This         will help tremendously in retrieving discs.     -   7. Libraries usually store their laser discs away from the         public. They often leave on shelves the “jewel cases”, which         patrons bring to the checkout desk if they want to borrow the         discs. The Compact Media Archive will help these Libraries save         storage space, while the numbering system will help retrieve and         store discs rapidly. Libraries and other large institutions can         make special orders of larger units, which can be manufactured         by adding more compartmental subunits. 

1. The Compact Media Archive consists of folded cards, each of which forms a discrete compartmental subunit (also referred to as compartment or subunit) capable of housing a single laser disc.
 2. The actual area of each of the cards mentioned in claim 1 is 14 centimeters by 12.5 centimeters after it is folded and measured on the front or back surface.
 3. Inside margins measuring 0.5 centimeter and perpendicular to the line where each card folds are glued one against the other to create the compartments introduced in claim
 1. 4. The margins that are parallel to the fold of the card specified in claim 3 form the opening of the subunit and thus, are not glued.
 5. The outer (front and back) surfaces of each compartment are glued to corresponding surfaces of adjacent compartments to form the Compact Media Archive as declared in claim
 1. 6. The actual thickness of each compartment mentioned in claim 5 is less than 0.1 centimeter, i.e. less than the thickness of a laser disc.
 7. The thickness of a Compact Media Archive unit made according to the specifications set in claims 2, 3, and 6, to store one hundred discs is approximately 7 centimeters without the discs, and approximately 20 centimeters when fully occupied.
 8. The Characteristic set forth in claim 7 presents a major advantage to users of the Compact Media Archive, allowing them to store one hundred discs in a space that fits only twenty discs if standard storage cases are used.
 9. By allotting a discrete compartment for each individual disc as indicated in claim 1, the Compact Media Archive prevents frictional contact between the discs, thereby preventing all sorts of damage.
 10. Also, having a discrete compartment for each individual disc as indicated in claim 1 makes the discs readily accessible, since each disc is inserted and retrieved independently.
 11. The specifications in claims 3, 4, and 5 render high flexibility to the Compact Media Archive as a whole, and to its individual compartments, such that it allows a user to insert and retrieve discs easily.
 12. In relation to claim 11, all segments of the Compact Media Archive can be expanded or contracted independently or as a whole at the user's will.
 13. Once individual compartments are numbered, the Compact Media Archive described in claim 1 offers high storage efficiency and easy retrieving ability to large institutions such as libraries where discs are numbered to match their location.
 14. The Compact Media Archive subunit is made of firm and durable paper, or thin and flexible carton or plastic, or a combination of these materials according to specifications set in claim
 2. 